College + No Time = Sad Meal Planning

Wowww, so its for sure been about forever since I've updated this poor thing! Sadly it's because I haven't been keeping up with my goal of trying out new and different recipes :/ Typically, I like to make pasta dishes and chicken dishes-- because its usually pretty quick and easy. And I'm sure there is a lot of Italian somewhere in my lineage [that has to be why I -heart- pasta so much ;) ] Hee hee! 

I'm hoping next semester to be more on top of meal planning and trying new recipes and such. :)

Here's a recap of my latest meals:

-Chicken with Italian Pasta Sauce (a semi-original recipe)

-Homemade Marshmallow Fudge

-Ramen Noodles with Peas and Chili Spices :P

-Taco Bell ;)

Dinners x3 :)

So, its been just about forever since I've posted- crazzzzy life and all that, but now that I'm down in Richmond with my kitchen---its time to get things started again!

So I made my THIRD dinner tonight! (Also the only night I remembered to take a picture before I scrarfed it down! hee hee!)

And tonights dinner was: . . . .MAC 'N' CHEESE AND TUNA AND PEAS!  

Simple, easy and yummmyyy!

Le Recipe

+ cook mac & cheese according to directions on box

+drain tuna

+add tuna to mac&cheese

+add frozen or fresh peas to the pot

+stir until all blended and warm

+serve and enjoyyyy!

And to recap, my first dinner on my own was :

MEDITERRANEAN WRAP SANDWICHES!

Super delish and is made in less than five minutes, no lie!

_Ingredients_

-flour tortillas

-light mayo (1/4c)

-garlic powder(1/4tsp)

-oregano(1/4tsp)

-cucumber

-deli turkey

_Recipe_

-Mix together the mayo, oregano and garlic powder in a small bowl

-Spread onto tortilla

-Put slices of turkey on top of the spread

-Add the sliced cucumbers

-Wrap up

-Eattttttt!!!

Dinner number two! was :

NO-COOK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE WITH PASTA!

Some of the most delicious pasta ever!

*Ingredients*

+Plum tomatoes

+Fresh (or dried) basil

+Italian Dressing (1/2c)

+Mozzarella Cheese (1/4c)

+Pasta!

*Recipe*

+Combine tomatoes and basil in bowl

+Add dressing and cheese

+Combine with pasta and toss lightly

+Enjoyy!

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

Tonight's meal, BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad! It was sooper dooper good I thought, and I'm not a salad fan, so this was a definite plus!

Food Needed:

1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips

1/2 cup of BBQ sauce

1 package of mixed salad greens (or in my case- a head of lettuce, chickpeas, sliced tomatoes, and chopped carrots)

Ranch Dressing

Now, the actual recipe also calls for blue cheese and chopped red onion, which I opted to leave out, since I don't like them ;)

How-to:

Cook the strips of chicken and the barbeque sauce in a skillet until done, then add to the mixed salad greens.

Eat! Yummmmmmmmmies!

*BBQ Sandwiches*

Since today was a busy day (I helped stage a house for Callidora Associates, run by my mama :D), we didn't really think about any dinner plans and ran out to do some last minute D-Day shoping and swung by Weggies to get some quick and easy dinner. Microwave BBQ and wheat hamburger buns, plus everybody's fav chips. Mine would be these:

Anyway, yummy ymmmmy, plus a surprise that starts with "C" and ends with "E". (:

I found a coupon tucked away in my room, one of those ones you get on valentines day or something, for a batch of "your favorite cookies". So I gave it to my Daddy and told him I wanted Chocolate Chip! They are amazingggggggggg!

Summer Favorite?

So this looks like it could be a definite summer favorite- simple, classic and easy to make!

Peanut Butter Sandwich and Strawberry Kabobs

You're going to need:

2-4 tablespoons peanut butter

6 slices raisin bread

1/4 cup strawberry jam

8 large strawberries (does that mean you could use 16 small strawberries :p)

4 (8-in) bamboo skewers

Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons peanut butter on each of 2 bread slices. Top each with second bread slice; spread 2 tablespoons strawberry jam on each. Top each with third bread slice. Cut off crusts if desired. Cut each 'sandwich' into triangles. Then alternately thread 2 sandwich triangles and 2 strawberries on each skewer.

Doesn't that sound delish? I just wish that right now I a) had raisin bread and b) had strawberries!

Making Southwest Burrito Burgers, formerly know as Ground Chicken Burritos

So its actually called Southwest Burrito Burgers, who knew?

Annnyway, here's the recipes!

1lb ground chicken

1/2 cup finely crushed tortilla chips

1/4 cup salsa

4 (10-in) flour tortillas

1 cup shredded lettuce

1/2 cup guacamole (optional)

1/2 cup shredded taco-flavored cheese (the Mexican style works well too)

1/2 cup salsa

(serves 4, double as necessary)

In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, tortilla chips and 1/4 cup salsa; mix well. Shape mixture into four 4-inch-long oval patties. When ready, place patties on broiler pan; broil 4-6 inches from heat for 10-15 minutes or until meat isn't pink. Turn once, half-way through.

*Now, the recipe wants you to place a foil packet of tortillas on the broiler as well, but I found it more effective to just microwave them to get them warm.

After the patties are done and the tortillas warm/soft, put lettuce on the center of each tortilla, top it with the patty, cheese and guacamole if desired. I also added the extra sauce directly into the burrito, instead of using it as a dipping sauce or topping.

yummy! of course mine didn't look nearly as good.

Yum, with a capital "YUM"!

Tonight's dinner was Ground Chicken Burritos , or something similar to that. I don't remember the exact name, or the entire recipe, but tomorrow morning, I'll snag it and jot it down for consumption (pun intended). Essentially, you take a pound or two of ground chicken, a cup of mashed tortilla chips and a cup of salsa and mix it together in a large bowl. Then you mold them into an "oval" shape, or in my case, lumps trying to resemble said oval, and either place on the grill or you can broil them.

Side Cooking Story. Tonight was my first night ever using the broiler pan, so I really had only a smidgen of an idea on how to use it. I knew that the bottom half needed some water and that you put it really close to the top of the oven, but my knowledge pretty much stopped there. So I cooked those fabulous Chicken Patties, and instead of leaving the door open, like you're supposed to. I closed it. I checked them every few minutes and wondered why they seemed to take so long to cook, when my dad had said that it would heat up really quickly. Finally, I judged them to be safe enough to eat, hopefully without getting Salmonella. I was hoping the slight pink color was from the salsa. Hah!

So. Feed little brother, one slightly undercooked chicken burrito. Have Father examine the chicken patties. Have Father explain how exactly to use the broiler pan. Re-cook said patties. Enjoy (:

And alas, no pictures, because. I can't think that far in advance yet. Maybe I'll snap a shot of the leftovers.

Luff luff,

LC